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Monthly Archives: July 2017

Paul McCartney has written a song about Donald Trump, which will be on his new album. Paul revealed this at the Graduation Ceremony for the Liverpool Institute of the Performing Arts, of which he is a patron.

Paul did not day whether the song was pro, or anti Trump, but as he played at a special fundraiser his is presidential opponent, Hilary Clinton, we can have a good guess!

Paul McCartney has taken a quick break from his American tour to attend the Graduation Ceremony at for the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts – the school he helped set up in his old school.

Also attending will be Woody Harrelson, who will become a companion of Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (Lipa), awarded for outstanding achievement and practical contribution to student learning.

Wouldn’t you just know it :>) You wait years to see a ‘live’ Beatle – then you see 2 in 2 days! The day after seeing George Harrison at the premiere of ‘How to Get Ahead in Advertising’, Paul McCartney gives a special ‘Rehearsal Concert’ at the Playhouse Theatre in London. It was his first full live show in 10 years.

It was not the first time that Paul had played at the Playhouse. In the 60s it was used by the BBC and the Beatles did many of their BBC broadcasts from there.

The theatre only holds around 300 people, and tickets we allocated through the Paul McCartney Fan Club. I wasn’t lucky in the draw, but decided to go up to the theatre anyway and try my luck. There was as tube strike in London that day, and getting there was very hard, which actually worked in my favour, as some people who were allocated tickets couldn’t make it, so I managed to get one! Not only that, I was in the second row from the front!

Paul was rehearsing with his new band for his upcoming World Tour. He decided to test the band in front of a live audience at 2 intimate shows, as well as giving a press conference to announce the world tour. It wasn’t a full show (well it lasted about 1.5 hours, so good enough!) but absolutely brilliant. Paul sang ‘I Saw Her Standing There’ and ‘Can’t Buy Me Love’ for the first time since the Beatles! There was a small gap between the seats and the stage, and many of us got up to dance.

The show comprised mainly of songs from the newly released ‘Flowers in the Dirt’ album, but also some oldies, including George Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’ – McCartney sings Gershwin! It was a very apt song to sing too – as it was one of the hottest days of the year outside, and no air conditioning inside.

Coming soon – the London Walks Beatles Walks promo film! I was film on 2 tours, and also with my fellow guides, Adam, Andy, and Steve, crossing Abbey Road, and running down Boston Place. The film should be ready in about a week, but here is a preview, with me in my Beatles suit!

“Without Lead Belly, no Lonnie Donegan, without Lonnie Donegan, no Beatles.” – George Harrison.

July 13th 1954 – one of the most important recording sessions in British rock and pop history – by a Jazz Band!

The Chris Barber Jazz Band record an album for Decca at their studios in West Hampstead. The album is called New Orleans Joys.

Part way through the recording, the band realise they don’t have enough songs to make a full album, so they retire to the Railway Hotel pub next door to discuss what to do. They decide to record some songs they do live as a ‘Breakdown Group’ – this was a part of their concerts when they would allow the brass section a break and play some paired down music, bringing the guitar player to the front (it was seen as a percussion instrument before this) and have double bass (or improvised tea chest bass) and washboard, which would be played using thimbles.

Chris Barber decided he would play bass, and Lonnie Donegan would play guitar. Washboard player Beryl Bryden was called up and summoned to come to the studio from her home in nearby Maida Vale.

One of the songs they recorded was ‘Rock Island Line’ which had been popularised by Huddy Leadbetter, better known as ‘Lead Belly’. It was sang by Lonnie Donegan

The album went on to sell a few thousand copies, not bad for a jazz album, and ‘Rock Island Line’ just seen as an album track. Things changed though, nearly 2 years later. Bill Haley had a UK number one hit with Rock Around the Clock and record companies tried to find a similar record which would have the same impact. Decca then remembered about ‘Rock Island Line’ and released it as a single, credited to The Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group. It became a huge hit record in the UK, and also ironically, in the US. More importantly, ‘Rock Island Line’ and other ‘skiffle’ songs, inspired thousands of British teenagers to start their own skiffle bands. The bands only need one cheap guitar, and the rest of the instruments could be adapted from household implements. Each song only had 3 or 4 chords to learn, so it was easy to play too. Guitar sales went up from about 2000 a year to 200,000 a year.

John Lennon’s psychedelic Summer of Love Rolls-Royce Phantom V is heading back to Britain to celebrate the marque and the 50th anniversary of Beatle’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album.

It is one of seven historic Rolls-Royce Phantoms belonging to influential figures – including dance legend Fred Astair, speed record breaker Sir Malcolm Campbell and war hero Field Marshal ‘Monty’ Montgomery – being brought together to celebrate the launch of the new eighth generation Phantom.

The launch will occur in London’s Mayfair on Thursday next week and the brightly painted John Lennon is on loan from current owner the Royal British Columbia Museum in Canada.